FBI arrests Al-Qaeda sympathizer who planned to bomb Independence day parade on July 4

Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts planned to blow up a truck full of explosives during the Independence Day parade on July 4 in Ohio, said FBI. An Al-Qaeda sympathizer, Pitts posted 'disturbing material' on Facebook which is one of the reasons he came on the FBI's radar.

Representational Image&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspThinkstock

Washington: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced Monday the arrest of an Al-Qaeda sympathizer who was planning to bomb the Independence Day parade on July 4 in Ohio, Cleveland. Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts who also used the alias Adbur Raheem Rafeeq planned to blow up a truck full of explosives during US national day celebrations on Wednesday said reports.

The accused planned to target US military personnel and their families reported AFP. Pitts – a US citizen was arrested after he revealed his plans to an undercover FBI agent. FBI said Pitts has an “extensive criminal history” and was on the agency’s scanner for a long time.

Earlier, the accused made statements in support of Al-Qaeda and expressed “violent intentions” against US armed forces and was on FBI’s radar ever since. He frequently posted “disturbing” material on Facebook, an FBI agent told AFP. In one post he called upon Muslims to train in hand-to-hand combat and the use of explosives.

The accused can be imprisoned for as long as 20 years and was booked for providing support to a foreign terrorist organization. This is the fourth terror-related arrest in the US in 2018. In 2017, a Bangladeshi immigrant and Islamic State supporter was arrested in connection for detonating a pipe bomb in New York which only injured him.

On October 31, an Uzbek immigrant who also pledged allegiance to IS drove a truck down a busy path and mowed down pedestrians.

FBI has however expressed doubts about Pitts’ ability to acquire the explosives and carry out the attack in his individual capacity. But he was looking for locations to carry out the attack.

FBI arrests Al-Qaeda sympathizer who planned to bomb Independence day parade on July 4 Description:Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts planned to blow up a truck full of explosives during the Independence Day parade on July 4 in Ohio, said FBI. An Al-Qaeda sympathizer, Pitts posted 'disturbing material' on Facebook which is one of the reasons he came on the FBI's radar. Times Now